The local music community is still reeling over the death of Frederick Craprotta, the owner of Freddy’s Bar in Clinton Township, where many blues and rock bands found a comfortable home that put the emphasis on live music.

Craprotta, 44, died in his sleep in his Clinton Township apartment on Sept. 11 and the bar has been closed since as his immediate and extended family mourn the loss of a gregarious, generous and outgoing lover of music.

“He loved music and was a talented musician himself,” said Nancy Hindman, a longtime friend and general manager of the bar. “I’m still numb over this.”

Craprotta invested a tidy sum of cash into enhancing the bar on Garfield Road with floor-to-ceiling garage doors that opened in warm weather and erecting a stage for live performances.

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Opened in 2010, Freddy’s became home of the weekly Working Man Jam hosted by some of Detroit’s top singers such as Christina Chriss and Kathleen Murray.

Many of the area’s premier blues bands could be found performing there including the Groove Council, the Reefermen, Jimmy McCarty, and more versatile nightclub entertainers including salsa singer Dal Bouey. The Detroit Blues Society often conducted its monthly meeting at Freddy’s and members usually stuck around to jam.

It was no surprise to see Craprotta pick up his guitar and join the other musicians onstage for an impromptu performance. Going back to his days at Chippewa Valley High School, he was always into performing, music and fast cars, according to his brother, Steve Craprotta.

“When we were kids we used to play ‘restaurant’ and he called his Freddy’s Restaurant,” Steve Craprotta recalls. “But music was his thing. He was always looking for a gig. At some of the houses he owned, he’d put a stage in the basement to jam on and have these big parties, so the bar really was an extension of his desire to have people over and entertain them.”

Before opening the bar, he was owner of Injection Connection and a partner in Eclipse Mold, which his brother runs. Once he had Freddy’s up and running, its reputation spread. He was popular not only with the bands, but because he took time to personally meet and greet his customers.

To say he was a popular fellow is an understatement. While his body was in state last week at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons funeral home in Sterling Heights, there was a line out the door as 1,400 people showed up to pay their respects. The funeral home had to call in extra staff to handle the turnout. Another 600 showed up for the service at St. John Greek Orthodox Church.

“I knew he had touched a lot of people, but we were a little surprised at the turnout,” Steve Craprotta said.

“I’m sure he was smiling and smirking. He’d be saying ‘I can’t believe we’re clogging up traffic and causing a commotion.’ He would have loved it.”

His passing comes at a particularly hard time for the family as his mother is fighting cancer.

The future of the bar is up in the air and will be decided by his family.

“We’re still trying to get our arms around that and figure out what to do,” Steve Craprotta said.

In other news:

Harrison Township native Uncle Kracker (Matt Shafer) returns to Royal Oak Music Theatre on the day after Thanksgiving, continuing one of the Motor City’s most enduring musical holiday customs.

Kracker used to perform Thanksgiving night shows at the now closed Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens before moving the party over to Royal Oak a while back. On Nov. 23, he’ll perform material from his upcoming CD, “Midnight Special,” his first full-length effort since 2009’s “Happy Hour.”

Tickets, $9.95 in advance and $15 at the door, go on sale Sept. 21.

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren this week announced its fall and early-winter lineup:

All shows start at 8 p.m. except Newman’s, which will begin at 7 p.m. Individual show tickets are on sale; visit www.andiamoshowroom.com or call 586-268-3200.

The legendary Bobby Keys, who performed saxophone on some of the Rolling Stones’ greatest hits, is coming to Ferndale’s Magic Bag on Oct. 18. He’ll be joined by an all-star band called The Suffering Bastards. The lineup includes Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites, Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes, and others. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, www.themagicbag.com or 248-544-3030.